Method of making vulcanized products



Oct. 9, 1923.

J. E. GROSJEAN METHOD OF MAKING VULCAN IZED PRODUCTS Filed Dec. 30, 1919 TIE- E Tia. l

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/ firto'nwq Patents Uct, i923.

JAMES E. GBOSJEAN, 0F LIMA, O HIO.

manner ormnnme VULCANIZEID rnoion c'rs.

Application filed December 30, 1919. Serial No. 348,295.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that l, JAMES E. GROSJEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Allen and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Vulcanized Products, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in the art of manufacturing heels for boots or shoes, and similar products from rubber or other vulcanizable material whereby a heel or similar product having great durability, and wear-resisting, anti-slipping, and other desirable properties may be manufactured rapidly and at relatively small expense. The invention is particularly a plicable to the manufacture of heels for oots or shoes which comprises an attachingbase of fabric or equivalent tough material adapted to receive and securely hold the heads of nails which serve to secure the heel to the boot or shoe, a textile or equivalentcord or thread containing tread, and a body of vulcanizable material, preferably rubber, these constituent 'partsof the heel being assembled, then subjected to compression and heat in a mold or die, the cavity of which,

is of such form as to give the desired shape to the finished heel and while the heel is held under compression in such shape it is curedor vulcanized, wherebythe constituent parts of the heel are securely united and the eel as awholebecomes permanently set in its final form.

In the accompanying drawing, iii-which the invention is shown applied to the manufacture of heels of the general character just described,

F'i es 1 and 2 are perspective views each showing the constituent parts used to make up aiheel, prior to the introduction of the same into the mold,

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a mold showing thelparts used in the making of the-heel, introduced therein but prior to compression of such parts, and

Figure l is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the mold closed and indicating the manner. inwhich the heel is-squeezed or-compressed into its final form. 7

While the method provided by the, present invention is applicable I generally to the manufacture of vulcanizable products of various forms and .kinds adapted to various uses, themethodwill be herein shownand described as applied to the manufacture of heels as one example of the manner in whichthe invention may be carried out. Inthis particular application of the invention, the heel is made up of an attaching base "1', a tread 2 and a body 3,-the latter preferably con-formin substantially in size and outline to that of the heel to be produced, while the base 1 may cbnform substantially to the outline of the body but is somewhat smaller so that the body forms a margin which rojects from the periphery of the base, an the tread 2 preferably conforms substantially to the outline of the body but is somewhat smaller than the base so that the body forms a relatively wider margin around the periphery of the tread. The base-1 andthe' tread 2 are preferably of such character that they retain substantially their original form and size when subjected to compression and heat While the interposed body 3 is of such a character that it is capable of being moldedunder compression and heat and to become permanently set by vulcanization :or curing. In practice, it is preferable to form the base 1 from a suitable number of plies of tough material through which the-securing nails for the heel may be driven and which will stron ly secure the nail heads against pulling t rough the base, plies of canvasor other textile or woven fabric ooated with vulcanizable material, preferably rubber, being most suitable for this purpose. lhe body 3 is preferablywcomposed of one or moresheets of raw or uncured rubber to which the fiat sides of the base and tread will adhere with suflicient firmness to per- 'mit handling without detachment or displacement of the parts when the baseand tread are pressed against its opposite sides.

of a cord or fabric structure and intervening layers of vulcanizab-le material. Preferably, the tread is composed of the twisted cord or fabric structure reclaimed from used or dis carded cord or fabric automobile tires, it being necessary in such cases only to remove the rubber which covers. the cord or fabric y The tread is preferably composed of layers edges of the layers and also the ends of-the V cords or the treads ofthe fabric beingpresented to the Wear surface of the tread. This cord or fabric structure may however be made up from fresh or raw stock as desired.

In performing the method as applied to the manufacture of heels of the character described, the blank composed of the base 1,

.the tread 2 and the body 3 in adhering relation, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is placed in a mold or die l, which may be of any suitable construction but .provided with a cavity 5 which conforms in shape and size to the finished heel. When the blank is placed in the mold, as shown in Figure 3, the tread 2 will rest on the bottom of the mold or die cavity, the body 3 will approximately fit withinthe periphery of the mold cavity, and the base 1 will project some distance above the top of the mold or die. The next step in the method is performed by forcing the upper member or top 6 of' the mold or die down upon the body of the mold or die, the top of the base 1 fitting fiatwise and evenly against the under flat side of the mold or die member 6. This operation squeezes the base and tread into the upper and lower side of the interposed body, the

material of the body which is thus squeezed from between the base and tread flowing to the peripher of the mold and filling the same vertica ly to form a finishing edge 3 for the heel. Any surplus rubber or material from thebody will be forced out of the top of themold after the mold has been completely filled.

The final step in the method consists in vulcanizing or curing the heel to strongly unite its constituent parts and to. permanently set the heel in proper form and condition for use. This may be efiected advantageouslv by, heatin the heel or product while it is. held un er compression in the mold, the mold being for example steam heated and effecting vulcanization of the material or rubber composing the heel. After vulcanization or'curing has been completed, theheel isfinished and may be removed in any suitable way from the mold.

The procedure in manufacturin other products by the method constituting the present invention may be substantially the same as that hereinbefore described for the manufacturing of heels.

The manufacture of heel and other products by the method hereinbefore described ofiers many important practical advantages,

over methods heretofore used for such purposes. The constituent arts of the product may be easily and .quic ly cut or punched into the proper shape and sizes and these parts when pressed together in their oorrect relation will adhere to one another with suflicient. firmness to enable the blanks thus formed to be handled without separationor displacement. The step of squeezing or product its finished form and con ition and it firmly unites the constituent parts of the product. As applied to the manufacture of heels for boots and shoes, the expense of manufacture is substantiall reduced and a superior roduct is obtaine particularly as compared with heels of the class in which nail receiving washers are embedded in the rubber composing the body'of the heel. The tough fabric or equivalent base receives the nails which secure'the heel upon the shoe and by its nature, this base enables the securing nails to be driven simultaneous and at any desired points. This base, when produced in products otherthan heels may serve to attach such products to supports or othnobjects. i e

.I claim as my invention z-- 1. The method of making heels for boots and shoes which comprises assembling an attaching member and a tread member at the opposite sides ofa body of vulcanizable plas' tic material of relatively larger area, said attaching and tread members comprising said attachin and tread members and body,

while the b0 y is confined peripherally and under sufficient pressure to squeeze said attachin and tread members into the opposite si es of said body-and toforcea portion of the material outwardly-from the space between said members beyond. the peripheries of said members and to cause the material so forcedto spread inbothdirections transversely ofthe direction-of outward flow to form margins of substantial width around the ripheries of-the attaching and tread mem ers, and. vulcanizing the resulting product-to unite the. attaching and tread members to the intervening body and surrounding margins.

2. The method of making heelsfor boots and shoes which comprises assembling a composite tread of textile material and intervening layers ofvulcanizable material to a bodyof vulcanizablelmaterial, the layers of the tread being presentededgew'ise, to said body, compressing saidtread and body: sufficiently to squeeze the tread into said body and vulcanizing the resulting product to unite said intervening layers of vulcanizable 4 material of the tread with said bod Y 3. The method of making he is or. boots and shoes wliich comprises, ass mblin an attaching'm'eiiiber and a tread at the oppositeffs'ides offal of vulcanizable plastic material of relative y larger area-, theattachterial of the body outwardly from the space.

between said member and tread and to spread the same in both directions transversely of the direction of outward flow to form margins around the peripheries of said member and tread, and vulcanizing the resulting product to unite the plies of the attaching member and tread respectively to said body.

4. The method of making heels comprising placing an attaching member and a tread both containing layers of textile material and intervening layers of vulcanizable material at opposite sldes of a body of rubber of relatively larger area, the layers of the attaching member extending upwardly to the plane of said body and the layers of the tread extending transversely to the plane of said body, compressing together said member, tread and body while confined peripherally and under suflicient pressure to squeeze said member and tread into the opposite sides of said body and to force a portion of the material composing said body outwardly from the space between the attaching member and tread to the peripheries of said member and tread, and vulcanizing the resulting product to unite the intervening layers oi vulcanizable material of the attaching member and tread with said body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. GROSJEAN. 

